Category: NFL (Page 799 of 1282)

      Does Favre still want to play for the Vikings?

      February 12, 2009 /

      Dennis Dillon of Sporting News.com is pondering that very question:

      Brett FavrePardon me for being skeptical, but I can’t help wondering if there’s a hidden agenda here. Is Favre, 39, really hanging it up this time? Or is he clearing a path for a return with another team — like, for instance, the Vikings?

      In a sense, Favre has had a symmetrical football career. He played 16 years in Green Bay, sandwiched between a beginning bookend year in Atlanta and a finishing bookend year in New York.
      What does he have left to accomplish?

      He is a three-time NFL most valuable player. He went to two Super Bowls and won one. He owns numerous NFL passing records, and he certainly will be elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.

      But somehow, I can’t help but think we haven’t seen the last of Brett Favre. I get the feeling he’s not ready to close the book on his football career. Don’t be surprised if he comes back for a 19th season.
      After all, there’s no limit on the number of times he can retire.

      I truly believe Favre just likes new challenges at this point in his career. He was done with the Green Bay thing, so he tried the Big Apple. That wasn’t entirely to his liking and for some strange reason there seems to be a notion that he has a desire to play in Minnesota. Maybe he has some strange hard on for walking into Lambeau Field as a member of another team just to see how Packer fans would react. Or maybe he wants to see a fan base like Minnesota cheer him after years of despising him.

      Whatever his reason, I’m with Dillion – something tells me Favre isn’t done.

      NFL

      Offseason Blueprint: Seattle Seahawks

      February 12, 2009 /

      Notable Free Agents: Leroy Hill, LB; Leonard Weaver, FB; Maurice Morris, RB; Rocky Bernard, DT; Bobby Engram, WR.

      Projected 2009 Cap Space: $900,000

      Draft Order: 4

      Top Needs: The Hawks need to add depth to an offensive line that has injury and age concerns. The defensive line could stand to add depth as well and this team really needs a playmaker on the offensive side of the ball. Safety and even quarterback could be addressed as well.

      Offseason Outlook: Jim Mora is set to take over the reins in Seattle as Mike Holmgren puts his coaching career on hold. Perhaps the biggest thing that needs to be addressed this offseason is something the Seahawks have no control over – health. The injury bug hit this team like a runaway train last year and it never recovered.

      Many early mocks have the Hawks selecting Texas Tech wide receiver Michael Crabtree with the fourth overall pick. Not a bad choice considering this team needs a major playmaker on the offensive side of the ball and Crabtree is easily the best wideout of the ’09 draft class. It’s hard to argue against taking a 6’3”, 214-pound receiver who has outstanding leaping ability and soft hands. If he winds up in Seattle, he would dramatically upgrade the wideout position.

      The Seahawks’ top unrestricted free agent is 26-year old linebacker LeRoy Hill, who the team would love to retain, but his marijuana arrest in January complicates things. If nothing else, his arrest could knock his price tag down a bit, which means Seattle could have an easier time retaining Hill, who is one of the better young linebackers on the market. It’ll be interesting to see how this situation develops.

      At some point, the Seahawks will address their offensive line, whether it’s in free agency or the draft. It’s doubtful at this point that Seattle spends its first round pick on an O-linemen, since the current starting five is good enough to start again next year. But the group – led by left tackle Walter Jones – is susceptible to injuries and is aging. While technically sound and smart, the starting five lacks a physical mauler, so the Hawks might add depth at all positions in order to create competition in camp.

      Defensively, again, staying healthy is key because the front seven is pretty good as is, although Hill and DT Rocky Bernard are both free agents so if they depart the team will need to address those areas. The Hawks also have a size issue in the secondary, but Kelly Jennings and Marcus Trufant are still quality corners and the team could do a lot worse at safety with Deon Grant and Brian Russell. Still, look for Seattle to add depth to the unit this offseason, perhaps in the middle rounds come April.

      Finally, the quarterback issue will likely be addressed in the draft. Matt Hasselbeck says his back is once again healthy, but look for the Hawks to draft a signal caller that could challenge Seneca Wallace and Charlie Frye.

      NFL

      Rosenhaus makes several clients available without consulting teams

      February 12, 2009 /

      Agent Drew Rosenhaus isn’t making a ton of friends lately with the way he’s decided to make his clients available for trades, without speaking to the teams first.

      Case in point:

      Plaxico BurressDrew Rosenhaus, who has represented (Plaxico) Burress since he signed with the Giants four years ago, sent an e-mail to all 32 teams earlier this week in which he indicated Burress could be acquired via trade, according to three people informed of the contents of the e-mail. The people, who requested anonymity because the e-mail was not to be discussed publicly, said it was a list of Rosenhaus’ free-agent and draft-eligible clients as well as three players he deemed trade-able.

      All three are wide receivers: the Cardinals’ Anquan Boldin, the Bengals’ Chad Johnson and Burress.

      But according to one of the people familiar with the situation — a member of one team’s front office who was on Rosenhaus’ list of recipients — the Giants had plenty to say earlier this week. Giants assistant general manager Kevin Abrams notified the rest of the league that the Giants had not authorized Rosenhaus to pursue trade scenarios on Burress’ behalf, and that any inquiries about Burress’ availability would constitute tampering.

      Another person informed of the situation said Rosenhaus sent out another e-mail yesterday in which he clarified he doesn’t have permission to seek a trade for any of the three clients he listed.

      This numb nut just decided to send out a mass e-mail letting other teams know that Burress, Boldin and Ocho Cinco were available without talking to their respective teams first. Brilliant! These power agents really do feel like they can do whatever they want.

      NFL

      Offseason Blueprint: Kansas City Chiefs

      February 11, 2009 /

      Notable Free Agents: Jason Babin, DE; Rocky Boiman, LB; Oliver Celestin, FS.

      Projected 2009 Cap Space: $33,000,000

      Draft Order: 3

      Top Needs: The Chiefs have a variety of holes to fill this offseason, from the interior of their offensive line, to linebacker to safety and No. 2 wide receiver.

      Offseason Outlook: Despite the lack of overall roster talent, the Chiefs aren’t a bad situation to walk into for new GM Scott Pioli and head coach Todd Haley. The team has plenty of cap space, a high draft pick and not one marquee free agent to re-sign. Pioli is essentially working with a clean slate to begin his era in Kansas City.

      That said, there are some underlining issues on the horizon. Tight end Tony Gonzalez and running back Larry Johnson, two players who will be counted on to spark the revival in Kansas City, have both expressed a desire to be traded this offseason. Gonzalez has wavered a bit in his demands, but it’s clear that LJ wants out of KC and maybe Pioli will grant his wish as long as the Chiefs can land proper compensation for the star back.

      Another area Pioli might address is at quarterback, where incumbent Tyler Thigpen played well enough in the second half of the season to merit a crack at the starting spot, but probably isn’t the long-term answer. Considering Pioli is coming over from New England, he could look into what it would take to acquire Matt Cassel. Don’t count on it though. KC has the No. 3 overall pick and certainly won’t part with that high of a pick for Cassel, especially when you consider he might have been a product of the Patriots’ outstanding offensive system. Don’t be surprised if Thigpen is the Chiefs’ starter under center again next year.

      The Chiefs could stand an upgrade at center and right guard. Rudy Niswanger was the team’s starter last year at center, but given his size, he could easily move to right guard and then KC could look to sign one of the many free agent centers that are available this offseason including Matt Birk (Vikings), Brad Meester (Jaguars), Eric Ghiaciuc (Bengals) and Jason Brown (Ravens).

      Defensively, Jason Babin surprised folks last year with his steady play at right defensive end, but he’s a free agent and if Pioli sees an upgrade available either in free agency or the draft, he’ll likely jump on it. It’s doubtful that Pioli goes after a marquee name like Julius Peppers to fill the void, but the position will no doubt be addressed this offseason.

      At linebacker, Derrick Johnson is a stud on the strong-side, but the Chiefs are in desperate need to upgrade the other two spots. The team signed Demorrio Williams to fill the weak-side position last year, but he’s more of a situational pass-rusher at best and probably isn’t an every down player. In the middle, Pat Thomas missed time last year due to injuries and isn’t the type of run-stuffer the Chiefs are going to need moving forward.

      Given their needs at linebacker, KC could use its first round pick on Wake Forest’s Aaron Curry, who is talented enough to play either outside or in the middle. He would be a nice compliment to Johnson and would add some athleticism on that side of the ball for KC, who has still yet to hire a defensive coordinator. But it’s worth noting that both the Lions and Rams (who pick ahead of the Chiefs) will take a strong look at Curry, too.

      If the Lions pass on Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford, KC could be a landing spot for him at No. 3. Pundits seem to believe the notion that since Tom Brady was a seventh round pick, that anyone that comes from the New England front office (i.e. Pioli) will pass on the opportunity to draft a quarterback high in the first round. But Falcons’ GM Thomas Dimitroff (who cut his teeth in the Patriots’ front office) bucked that trend by taking Matt Ryan with the third overall pick last year. So if Pioli feels that Stafford is a franchise-type quarterback, don’t be surprised if the Chiefs selected him if Detroit passes.

      The Chiefs could also use an upgrade at safety and wide receiver, but given their other needs and lack of quality safeties on the market, it’s doubtful that Pioli will turn heads filling either position this offseason.

      NFL

      Report: Eagles, Giants front runners for Boldin

      February 11, 2009 /

      Anquan BoldinIf the Cardinals indeed trade disgruntled wideout Anquan Boldin this offseason, the Eagles and Giants are apparently the front-runners for his services according to ESPN’s John Clayton.

      With the compensation for Boldin being first and third round picks, the Eagles appear to have a slight edge on the G-Men. Philly has two first round picks (Nos. 21 and 28), while New York is set to select at No. 29.

      Boldin would be a great fit for the Eagles, who love to throw the ball yet haven’t had a legitimate No. 1 receiver since the Terrell Owens experiment failed a couple years ago. DeSean Jackson had a breakthrough performance as a rookie last season, flashing extraordinary speed and playmaking ability. If Philly can acquire Boldin, it would only seem to enhance what Jackson brings to the field.

      If the Eagles do land Boldin and can sign him to a long-term deal, it would seem logical that they would re-sign quarterback Donovan McNabb to another multi-year deal. It wouldn’t make much sense to part with multiple draft picks and commit an exorbitant amount of money to Boldin, only to turn around and hand the keys to the offense to an inexperienced Kevin Kolb. This is just speculation at this point, but one would have to assume that the Eagles would want McNabb running the offense if Boldin does come aboard.

      Fantasy Football, NFL

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